Network Types - Wired vs Wireless

Computers have the ability to talk to each other using a network. This connection can be physical, using a wire, or wireless. Wired networks are faster but are limited by the cables that connect computers. Wireless networks allow computers to move without disrupting connection, but they are slower than wired networks and lose signal strength when the computer is far from the wireless source.

Another network setup is needed when many computers are trying to share data and resources at once. Rather than having each computer manage its connection to another computer, the network has one computer whose only responsibility is to manage the connections between all of the other computers and resources. This network is called a client-server network. The “server” is the name given to the computer that is responsible for managing all of the connections of the other computers, or “clients”. 

When you go online, you’re actually connecting to a world-wide network of many servers and clients. Your computer is a client, and communicates with servers on the internet to get access to websites and other online resources.

Connecting to a Network

Most networks need a device called a “router,” which allows for computers to connect to one another. If your router is wired, you will need Ethernet cables to connect your computers to the router. If your router is wireless, you will need to make sure that all of your computers have a wireless network card. 

Once the network is set up, you need to connect your computer to it. For a wired connection, plug the Ethernet cable from the router into your computer. When using a wireless connection, choose the wireless network and enter the password.

To troubleshoot network issues:

• For wired networks, make sure all of the cables are plugged in and in good condition.

• For wireless networks, try to have few objects (walls, electronic devices, etc.) between the router and computer.

• If you can connect to the network but you can’t send or receive any data, you might need to restart the router. Unplug it, count to ten slowly, then plug it back in.

The Internet

What is the Internet? What’s the World Wide Web? These terms, along with “going online” are often used synonymously. However, there is a difference between them.

The Internet is all of the networks across the world that connect together to create the physical (both wired and wireless) connections between computers. It is a specific, giant network. It consists of many servers, and many more clients that connect to these servers to access data.

Using a Web Browser

The Internet is a vast library of information, entertainment, and communication. But to access all of that, you need a web browser. Web browsers are software applications that allow you to view and interact with web pages. Commonly used browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari. These are also available on mobile devices as applications used to browse the internet in the same way as on a computer.

The World Wide Web

All of the data – the web sites, emails, pictures, videos, and other files you access when you’re online – make up what’s called the World Wide Web. Everything that you see online is part of the World Wide Web. Everything that lets you connect to the World Wide Web is part of the Internet.

Think of a city: the parks, businesses, and other places you might want to visit are like the World Wide Web. The roads, sidewalks, power lines, sewers, and other infrastructure all make the city function and help you visit what you want to see. They are like the Internet. 

Internet Service Providers

If the roads of a city are the connections between computers on the Internet, you need a vehicle to access them and get anywhere. That’s where Internet Service Providers (ISPs) come in. ISPs are the companies that provide you with access to the internet, acting as your on-ramp to the digital world. ISPs provide a variety of services, including providing internet access, maintaining the network infrastructure, and sometimes offering email and other security services.

When choosing an ISP, consider the type of connection they offer as that can influence your connectivity speed, cost, availability, and data restrictions. Depending on how you plan to interact with the Internet, some of these things will mean more to you than others.